Abstract:
Production of compost by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an effective solution to
overcome the problems caused due to its invasive growth in water bodies. The objective of this
study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various compost mixtures produced by water hyacinth
on the growth performance of Chilli (Capsicum annum) var. MI-2. Six compost trials were
prepared using different ratios of water hyacinth, cattle manure, spent poultry litter, Eppawala
rock phosphate, wood ash and dry leaf litter. Compost production and the greenhouse
experiment were done in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. Two kilograms of top
soil (Ultisols) were filled to the polyethylene pots and supplemented with the basal dressing
(Urea 0.047 g/pot, Triple super phosphate 0.134 g/pot, Murate of potash 0.1 g/pot) according to
the Department of Agriculture recommendations and allowed to stand one week before the
plant establishment. The prepared compost mixtures were incorporated into the soil according
to the field application rate of 20 MT/ha (26.87 g/pot) in 7 treatments including a control
treatment replicated without applying any compost mixture. C. annum seedlings were
established in pots with three replicates and were laid out in a Complete Randomized Design in
the greenhouse. The shoot length (cm) was recorded every other day for 6 weeks. Root dry
weight (g), Root length (cm) and shoot dry weight (g) was recorded at the end of the
experiment. According to the results, it revealed that the compost mixtures were significantly (p
≤ 0.05) influenced the growth of C. annum. The best shoot length was obtained in treatment 5
which the soil was amended with compost consists of water hyacinth 50%, dry leaf litter 25%,
Eppawala rock phosphate 5%, wood ash 5%, and spent poultry litter 15%. Further, the shoot
dry weight of C. annum was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased when the soil was amended with
the same compost mixture. Therefore, it can be concluded that water hyacinth composted by
mixing different amendments can be used to prepare organic fertilizers effectively as a nutrient
source for C. annum growth
